Recipient of numerous awards, including a 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM), which were established by the White House to identify outstanding mentoring efforts to enhance the participation of groups underrepresented in science, mathematics and engineering. The awards are given competitively as part of a national peer‐review process and are accompanied by a $10,000 prize, a Presidential certificate awarded at the White House, and a personal visit with the President in the Oval Office.